With the onset of winter, the use of heating is essential. But many people make a very common mistake that can double their energy bill by using the heater. Explanation !
Did you know that certain actions that may seem trivial to you can actually lead to overconsumption of energy and increase your heating costs? That is why it is necessary to be aware of these errors and avoid them.
Many people don’t know how to use this device properly. It is therefore not surprising that they end up with an excessive energy bill. In order to avoid throwing your money away, you need to pay special attention to your radiator and maintain it properly. Indeed, there are certain procedures to follow each year before restarting your heating.
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Bleed a radiator: how to do it?
Your radiator is cold or only heats at the bottom after the restart? Maybe that’s a sign he needs to be purged. Indeed, after months of inactivity, it is very likely that there is air trapped inside. Here are the steps to resolve this issue:
- After identifying the radiator to bleed, turn it off and wait for it to cool completely.
- Locate the bleed valve (usually located in the upper corner of the radiator) and place a basin underneath to catch the water that escapes, following the evacuation of the air.
- Using a bleed key, open the screw and let the air out.
- If you hear a hiss, the air has been released and you can now close the valve.
Although bleeding your radiator can control its energy consumption, there is one mistake to banish when using it.
Why should you avoid drying clothes on the radiator?
In addition to moisture and mold problems, and the resulting dangers that can affect your respiratory system, hanging wet laundry over a heater causes the heater to work harder to perform its primary function. In effect, hanging clothes on the radiator can impede the diffusion of heatwhich forces the device to consume more energy and therefore increase your bill. Also, some garments are made from flammable fabrics that are very likely to catch fire when they come into contact with a heat source. Finally, the moisture released from clothing promotes mold in the home.
Solution : If you’re struggling with your clothes that never dry out in the winter and can’t air dry, just get a radiator clothes airer.
Other errors with the radiator that lead to overconsumption of energy
Aside from the mistake of covering the radiator with clothes, there are other common habits that can add to your energy bill and that you urgently need to stop doing:
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Place furniture near the radiator
Having furniture (curtains, sofas, etc.) placed in front of or very close to a radiator is likely to prevent hot air from circulating freely in the room, which leads to an increase in the energy consumed. To prevent this from happening and to avoid damaging certain pieces of furniture (leather or other material), you must keep them away from the heating.
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Set the heater to too high temperatures
The key to reducing energy consumption is never to set the heating to a very high temperature. Indeed, in addition to making the rooms uncomfortably hot, raising the temperature of the radiator leads to significant energy costs.
As you will have understood, the errors that can lead your radiator to consume more energy and double the amount of your bills are numerous and quite widespread. However, to avoid wasting your money, you absolutely must change your habits.
Read also If you put a spoonful on the radiator, you’ll save on your bills
Via SPM
